For Reel: Remember the Titans

For Reel: Remember the TitansWhen Henrik Sedin played his first NHL game back on October 5, 2000, Chris Tanev was at the movie theatre.

When Henrik Sedin played his first NHL game back on October 5, 2000, Chris Tanev was at the movie theatre.

Henrik remembers his first game fondly, even though it was more than 1,000 games ago. Tanev remembers that theatre visit just as fondly, even though it was nearly 5,000 days ago.

The titan that is Henrik and his 1,000th game milestone were celebrated this past Sunday when the Canucks hosted the Buffalo Sabres. Tanev wasn't in action, but as the video montages flashed back to 2000, he was sure to Remember the Titans.

“It’s just a very inspiring movie, good acting, good story and I get pumped up for it,” said Tanev, who said the 2000 sports drama, produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and starring Denzel Washington, is still his favourite movie to this day.

Remember the Titans is the story “of a newly appointed African-American coach and his high school team on their first season as a racially integrated unit,” as described on IMDB. There is truth to this story as the film is based on African-American coach Herman Boone, played by Washington, who attempts to coach a racially split high school football team in Virginia in the early 1970s.

“There’s a lot of racial tension,” explained Tanev, who has seen the movie (that is available to buy through Cineplex Store) 20-plus times. “Probably more cause it’s on TV a lot. It’s one of those movies that keeps you entertained the whole time.

“Having played on a lot of teams with guys from different cultures and backgrounds, like in the movie, I understand what it takes to gel and become an awesome team. They do that and also become great friends. It’s just a very inspiring movie.”

The 24-year-old native of East York, Ontario, was too small to play football in high school and yet he became a student of the game. Tanev is a huge NFL fan and he admitted his dream of playing in the pros never truly died.

“Maybe now?” he laughed.

At 6-foot-2 and 185-pounds, Tanev could potentially line-up at place kicker for a CFL team, but even that’s likely a stretch.

Stick to hockey, and remembering the titans.

Verdict – Like Chris Tanev himself, this movie only gets better with age. The Tan Man gives it five footballs.